asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the gross profit, and (b) the net profit made in the years 1948 and 1949 by the sea fisheries association.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sea Fisheries Association Profits.
I assume that the Deputy refers to the fish marketing activities of the Irish Sea Fisheries Association. The gross profits, with the net profits shown in parentheses, on wet fish trading for the years 1948 and 1949 were, respectively, £20,988 (£8,093) and £14,785 (£255). In addition, the association purchased, at prearranged prices, shellfish gathered mainly in Connemara and at Cromane, County Kerry. On this side of its operations, after making allowance for overheads, etc., the association's trading showed a loss of £2,905 in 1948 and £1,356 in 1949.
Can the Minister make any statement as to the reason for the very substantial difference in the net profit on the sale of wet fish as between 1948 and 1949?
Net profit is the difference between the cost of the fish, plus the overheads, to the sea fisheries association and the amount received by the sea fisheries association for that fish when they market it. My object is to reduce that margin to the lowest possible level, consistent with prudence, so that the fishermen will receive from week to week as near as I can go to the total receipts realised for the fish marketed by the sea fisheries association on their behalf.